Major Requirements

Use the Major Progress Worksheet to track your completion of all requirements to earn your degree.

See the UO Catalog for more information, or take a look at a sample four-year plan.

1. Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201) and Introduction to Economic Analysis: Macroeconomics (EC 202). Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
2. Calculus for Business and Social Science I,II (MATH 241, 242). Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. MAT 251 / 252 or MAT 261 / 262 can be substituted for MAT 241/242. Students interested in pursuing graduate studies are strongly encouraged to take MAT 251 / 252.
3. Introduction to Methods of Probability and Statistics (MATH 243). Should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. For students with a strong Math background, there are other statistics and probability classes that will fulfill the requirement. Please consult with the department for more information.
4. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (EC 311) and Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (EC 313). Should be completed by the end of the junior year.
5. Introduction to Econometrics I,II (EC 320, 421). Should be completed by the end of the junior year.
6. Additional 28 credits in economics courses numbered 300 or above.
   • 8 of those upper division credits may be taken in 300 or 400-level courses.
   • At least 20 credits in courses numbered 400 or above. No more than 8 of the 28 credits may be in courses numbered 401, 404, 405, or 408. Note that 311, 313, 320, and 421 do not count toward these credits.
7. Grades of C– or better in courses taken to satisfy major requirements. Exceptions are courses offered P/N only—EC 401 404, 405, and 408. No more than 8 credits graded P/N may be applied to the economics major.
8. At least 28 of the 44 required upper-division credits required for the major (i.e., EC 311, 313, 320, 421, and the 28 required field course credits) must be taken at the University of Oregon.

Students who are interested in pursuing math classes beyond calculus should take MAT 251/252 or MAT 261/262, as these classes are prerequisites for further study in mathematics. This is especially important for students who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in economics.

EC 320 (or EC 423) is a prerequisite for almost all 400-level courses. EC 311 and sometimes EC 313 are as well. Because MATH 242 and 243 are prerequisites for EC 320, it is important for students to take those courses early.

Either EC 320 and EC 423 fulfills the first part of the econometrics requirements and fulfills the prerequisite for 400 level econ courses. EC 423 is the Advanced Econometrics course, which is recommended to students who are considering graduate school.

Both courses have their own prerequisites:

• EC 320: Math 252 or 242, and Math 243.
• EC 423: MATH 281, 341; MATH 282 and 461 strongly recommended.

Students repeating the EC 407 Seminar: [Topic] course with the same title may not count the additional attempt(s) towards the economics major.  The same policy is applied towards the EC 410. Experimental Course: [Topic].